Comic Book Wednesday: Marvel and DC

Welcome, fellow comic book nerds, to my first weekly comic book column!

I decided to start it off with only four comics that came out during the month of June – sort of dipping our toes in just to get us started. Following this week’s post, I will provide these quick reviews on recently released comics in order to keep you as up-to-date as possible. If there are any comics you want me to review in the following weeks, leave a comment down below. I will be tackling two Marvel and two DC comic books just for this week. In the coming weeks, I will include other publishers and more comics as well.

And now, off to the races.

The Unbelievable Gwenpool #3 by Christopher Hastings and Gurihiru

I am pleasantly surprised with how excited I am every time I pick up a new issue of Gwenpool! With this issue, Gwenpool is introduced to Dr. Strange, as he helps her out with an untimely problem. Yet, by the end of this issue, even with the help of Dr. Strange she is in deeper problems with M.O.D.O.K. The light comedic tone within each issue is a refreshing read – especially for someone who doesn’t read comedic stuff all to often. Plus, the main cover for this issue is an awesome homage to Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro and any homage/parody to a Studio Ghibli film earns an A+ in my book.

The Punisher #2 by Becky Cloonan and Steve Dillon

(If you haven’t read my first full comic book review for the first issue of this run – check it out here.)

Ok, so if you thought that the first issue came in with a loud entrance, just wait until you get your hands on this issue: Whoa! It comes at you fast with its punches, both literally and figuratively as the Punisher goes in a hand-to-hand combat with Face, one of the leaders in the drug operation. I’m happy to see that the Punisher is out of the shadows from the first issue. This second issue starts off with him in broad daylight, sipping on his coffee in a diner. But this is the only small moment you get with him before he raises all hell once he goes after the mobsters. By the end of it, we get a glimpse on who the Punisher has to deal with next. So get ready to be strapped in this dark roller-coaster, with twists and turns that you surely won’t see coming.

Wonder Woman Rebirth #1 by Greg Rucka and Matthew Clark

(Pick up DC Universe Rebirth before you pick up any of the character Rebirth issues. DC Rebirth in a nutshell – they are bringing in storylines from pre-New 52 and New 52. While also throwing the Watchmen universe into the mix, it also ties into the Flashpoint event.)

With the first issue of Wonder Woman Rebirth, it’s mostly composed of a series of alternating flashbacks of Wonder Woman’s storylines with her inner dialogue detailing each scenario. She is going through an identity crisis, trying to figure out who she is as her past is becoming harder to pinpoint. She even uses her Lasso of Truth on herself to figure this out. The action we see in this issue is mostly in her flashbacks, but by the end, Diana manages to pull herself out of this funk. So, don’t expect this issue to be stuck in the present and rolling with the punches. Overall, this is a good setup and introduction with an expository narrative that works well enough to drive us into the coming issue.

Batman Rebirth #1 by Scott Snyder, Tom King, and Mikel Janin

Last, but not least is Batman Rebirth #1. I will deem this issue as the, “Alfred’s love for avocados” issue, or maybe Bat-vocado. Well, you get the point–this issue starts and ends with a scene of Alfred and avocados, but I digress. The main plot of this issue is Batman trying to stop Calendar Man from spreading deadly spores into Gotham. We are introduced to a new sidekick of sorts for Batman. No, he is not a new Robin! But, he does get a kick-ass yellow suit with a black bat signal on his chest and it seems like Duke isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! Overall, Snyder and King knock it out of the park with character build-up and action packed sequences. Janin’s art style brings this to life, especially in the first two-page spread with Batman fighting Calendar Man.

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About the authorCaritza Berlioz

Caritza spends most of her time reading and writing comics, and occasionally having in-depth discussions about A Song of Ice and Fire theories. If she isn’t running around in the city with a bunch of comic books in her hands, you might also find her dancing around her house, practicing her pirouettes.